Author: Scott Welch
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering ousting all the members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a key advisory panel that offers guidance on preventive services, according to media reports. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that RFK Jr. plans to dismiss all 16 panel members of ...
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and Democratic officials in 20 other states filed a lawsuit challenging a new federal health insurance rule that tightens restrictions for enrolling in marketplace plans through the Affordable Care Act and bans coverage requirements for gender-affirming care. The officials argue that the new rule could strip coverage from millions of ...
Republicans’ “big, beautiful” law will add $3.394 trillion to deficits during the next decade and lead 10 million people to lose access to health insurance, according to an analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The updated assessment of the sweeping tax and spending cuts law came weeks after nearly every GOP lawmaker ...
A number of Republicans criticized Medicare Advantage during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, suggesting that the privatized Medicare program could be due for an overhaul from Washington. Calls to reform MA from Democrats are nothing new. But members of the GOP condemning MA is notable given the party’s traditional support for the program, in which ...
A new bipartisan bill would mandate that Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers “adequately reimburse” providers for services, citing a trend of health systems pulling out of MA contracts. The Prompt and Fair Pay Act was introduced by Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, and Greg Murphy, R-N.C. The legislation would require that insurers pay providers at least what ...
Medicare Advantage (MA) markets are highly concentrated across the country, according to a new study from KFF. As of 2024, 90% of Medicare beneficiaries live in a county where those enrolled in MA had plans sponsored by just one or two insurers, according to the report. The researchers found that 79% of counties were highly ...
UnitedHealthcare is rolling out a new benefit to encourage preventive cancer screenings. The insurer’s new breast and colon cancer detection benefit will be available for eligible commercial plans starting Jan. 1, 2026. Through the program, UHC will cover members’ first diagnostic imaging tests for breast cancer and diagnostic tests for colon cancer. This closes a ...
H.R.1—the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—contains several provisions that directly affect employer-provided benefit programs, primarily health and welfare programs.
Trump’s sweeping plan slashes Medicaid and food aid, putting millions of Californians at risk — especially low-income residents, undocumented immigrants and rural communities.
After weeks of contract negotiations that threatened to disrupt medical care for tens of thousands of Californians, UC Health and Blue Shield of California have reached a new agreeme